Five Clips from ‘The Good Soldier’

— by ROBERT DeFEIS —

“The Good Soldier” follows the journeys of five combat veterans from different generations of American wars as they sign up, go into battle and eventually change their minds about what it means to be a good soldier. From the clips you will see some pretty powerful characters and statements issued by them.

Here is the official synopsis: The veterans tell of their alien surroundings, their connection to their comrades, and the ghastliness of their reality. Some were wounded, some lost their buddies, some lost their sanity as they tried to quench their intense thirst for revenge by killing the enemy and, consequently, killing civilians. Some buried the enormity of their actions and did not speak of them — knowing only that they were following orders their commanders had required to conduct the war. Each man, in his own time, discovers the courage to confront his past actions and begin his healing. Even though they are still haunted by their time in combat, their ability to face themselves in their waking life and achieve self- reconciliation, is the mark of true valor.

The directors/producers from this film have released a statement that pretty much says it all and for me takes the words out of my mouth: The Good Soldier” is a breakthrough film that speaks to all sides — to the veterans who have been to war, of that awful place to which the journey took them, to the people at home who know nothing of it, to people who have worked for peace all their lives as well as to those who have raised generations of soldiers, to Northerners and Southerners alike, to flag wavers, flag burners, Christians and atheists. It is an extraordinary film that transcends political lines. The five men featured stand as totems for different generations of American wars. All are riveting. The simple revelations of their soldiers’ hearts, the wetness of their eyes, the emotion of the music that says what they cannot, the pauses and quietness, even the absence of narration pull at the psyche and whisper, “Does it really have to be this way?”